Early Blight

Definition - What does Early Blight mean?

Caused by a fungus called Alternaria Solani, early blight is
a plant disease that specifically targets the plant stem, foliage, and, in some
cases, fruits.

Early blight affects every plant differently but in most cases,
the leaves tend to drop first, which exposes the fruits to direct sunlight. Infected
plants also under-produce or completely stop producing flowers and fruits.

There are other types of blight as well, including bud blight and late blight, which mainly affects potatoes.

MaximumYield explains Early Blight

Early blight has been known to target tomatoes, affecting the fruits and stems alike. In most cases, this ailment tends to affect older plants but this disease has also been known to infect seedlings. According to gardeners, weak or stressed plants are more prone to early blight.

The first symptoms are quite similar to leaf spots, which ultimately develop into larger yellow patches. Older plants may display concentric rings and darker spots on their leaves. As far as the stems are concerned, they tend to become sunken and may be covered in darker lesions.

To reduce the risk of early blight, it is strongly recommended to buy seedlings and plants from reputed sources only. Air circulation is also extremely important when it comes to both the prevention and eradication of this disease.